Fixing device for circuit board and electronic apparatus having the same

Abstract

A fixing device includes a casing defining a receiving space and having an open end, and a movable element having a protruding end protruding from the open end. The movable element is movable relative to the casing along a first direction to vary a protruding distance of the protruding end from the open end of the casing. A plurality of first positioning portions are provided on one of the casing and the movable element. The second positioning portion engages interferentially and releasably a selected one of the first positioning portions along a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction to restrict movement of the movable element relative to the casing.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fixing device for fixing an end of a circuit board, said fixing device comprising:
 a casing defining a receiving space and having an open end communicating with said receiving space; 
 a movable element extending into said receiving space and having an inner end, a protruding end protruding from said open end, and an engaging groove formed in said protruding end for receiving the end of the circuit board, said movable element being movable relative to said casing along a first direction to vary a protruding distance of said protruding end from said open end of said casing; 
 a plurality of first positioning portions provided on one of said casing and said movable element and arranged along said first direction; and 
 a second positioning portion provided on the other one of said casing and said movable element; 
 said second positioning portion having a structure complementing each of said first positioning portions, said second positioning portion engaging interferentially and releasably a selected one of said first positioning portions along a second direction that is perpendicular to said first direction to restrict movement of said movable element relative to said casing; 
 wherein said casing includes two spaced-apart positioning walls extending along said first direction, said movable element including two resilient arms respectively proximate to said positioning walls, said resilient arms being movable toward each other and away from said respective positioning walls along said second direction, said first positioning portions including two rows of notches provided respectively on said positioning walls, said second positioning portion including two engaging teeth provided respectively on said resilient arms. 
 
     
     
       2. The fixing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said movable element further includes a main body having said inner end and said protruding end, said resilient arms being connected respectively to two opposite sides of said main body, said casing further having a closed end opposite to said open end, said fixing device further comprising a spring member abutting against said inner end of said main body and said closed end of said casing along said first direction. 
     
     
       3. The fixing device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said resilient arms are disposed between said positioning walls, each of said resilient arms having a first section, a second section, and a third section, said first section being connected to one of said two opposite sides of said main body, said second section interconnecting said first and third sections and being spaced apart from said main body, said third section being disposed outside of said open end. 
     
     
       4. The fixing device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said casing further includes two spaced-apart guide walls connected to and disposed between said positioning walls, said positioning walls and said guide walls cooperatively defining said receiving space and said open end, one 10 of said guide walls being formed with a limiting through hole extending along said first direction, said movable element further having a guide stud projecting from said main body and extendable into said limiting through hole. 
     
     
       5. The fixing device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said casing further includes two spaced-apart abutment walls, said positioning walls being disposed between said abutment walls, each of said resilient arms including a first section connected to and extending from one of said two opposite sides of said main body toward said closed end of said casing, a second section extending inclinedly from said first section toward said open end of said casing, and a third section connected to said second section and disposed outside of said open end. 
     
     
       6. The fixing device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said positioning walls are disposed between said first sections of said resilient arms, said engaging teeth being provided respectively on said first sections of said resilient arms. 
     
     
       7. The fixing device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said casing further includes two spaced-apart guide walls interconnecting said abutment walls and said positioning walls, said abutment walls and said guide walls cooperatively defining said receiving space and said open end, one of said guide walls being formed with a limiting through hole extending along said first direction, said movable element further having a guide stud projecting from said main body and extendable into said limiting through hole. 
     
     
       8. The fixing device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said casing further includes a press piece and a protrusion, said press piece having one end connected to said one of said guide walls, and another opposite end spaced apart from said one of said guide walls, said protrusion projecting from said opposite end of said press piece toward said one of said guide walls, said one of said guide walls being further formed with an engaging hole that corresponds in position to said protrusion and that is disposed between said closed end of said casing and said limiting through hole, said movable element further including a resilient plate formed on said main body, said guide stud being formed on said resilient plate to engage said engaging hole, said main body compressing said spring member when said guide stud engages said engaging hole. 
     
     
       9. The fixing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of said notches includes a first stop face facing said open end and substantially parallel to said second direction, and a first inclined face extending inclinedly from said first stop face to a corresponding one of said positioning walls, each of said engaging teeth having a second stop face substantially parallel to said second direction, and a second inclined face extending inclinedly from said second stop face to said second section of a respective one of said resilient arms, said second stop face abutting against said first stop face of one of said notches to restrict movement of said movable element toward said closed end of said casing. 
     
     
       10. The fixing device as claimed in  claim 1 , herein said protruding end has a substantially V-shaped cross section, and is formed with two opposite inclined faces, said engaging groove being formed between said inclined faces. 
     
     
       11. The fixing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said movable element further includes an elastic cushion disposed in said engaging groove. 
     
     
       12. An electronic apparatus, comprising:
 a housing including opposite first and second housing walls; 
 a circuit board having a first end positioned in said first housing wall, and a second end facing said second housing wall; and 
 a fixing device including
 a casing disposed on said second housing wall, said casing defining a receiving space and having an open end communicating with said receiving space, 
 a movable element extending into said receiving space and having an inner end, a protruding end protruding from said open end, and an engaging groove formed in said protruding end to receive said second end of said circuit board, said movable element being movable relative to said casing along a first direction to vary a protruding distance of said protruding end from said open end of said casing, 
 a plurality of first positioning portions provided on one of said casing and said movable element and arranged along said first direction, and 
 a second positioning portion provided on the other one of said casing and said movable element, 
 said second positioning portion having a structure complementing each of said first positioning portions, said second positioning portion engaging interferentially and releasably a selected one of said first positioning portions along a second direction that is perpendicular to said first direction to restrict movement of said movable element relative to said casing; 
 
 wherein said casing includes two spaced-apart positioning walls extending along said first direction, said movable element including two resilient arms respectively proximate to said positioning walls, said resilient arms being movable toward each other and away from said respective positioning walls along said second direction, said first positioning portions including two rows of notches provided respectively on said positioning walls, said second positioning portion including two engaging teeth provided respectively on said resilient arms. 
 
     
     
       13. The electronic apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said movable element further includes a main body having said inner end and said protruding end, said resilient arms being connected respectively to two opposite sides of said main body, said casing further having a closed end opposite to said open end, said fixing device further comprising a spring member abutting against said inner end of said movable element and said closed end of said casing along said first direction. 
     
     
       14. The electronic apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said resilient arms are disposed between said positioning walls, each of said resilient arms having a first section, a second section, and a third section, said first section being connected to one of said two opposite sides of said main body, said second section interconnecting said first and third sections and being spaced apart from said main body, said third section being disposed outside of said open end. 
     
     
       15. The electronic apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said casing further includes two spaced-apart guide walls connected to and disposed between said positioning walls, said positioning walls and said guide walls cooperatively defining said receiving space and said open end, one of said guide walls being formed with a limiting through hole extending along said first direction, said movable element further having a guide stud projecting from said main body and extendable into said limiting through hole. 
     
     
       16. The electronic apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said casing further includes two spaced-apart abutment walls, said positioning walls being disposed between said abutment walls, each of said resilient arms including a first section connected to and extending from one of said two opposite sides of said main body toward said closed end of said casing, a second section extending inclinedly from said first section toward said open end of said casing, and a third section connected to said second section and disposed outside of said open end. 
     
     
       17. The electronic apparatus as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said positioning walls are disposed between said first sections of said resilient arms, said engaging teeth being provided respectively on said first sections of said resilient arms. 
     
     
       18. The electronic apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said casing further includes two spaced-apart guide walls interconnecting said abutment walls and said positioning walls, said abutment walls and said guide walls cooperatively defining said receiving space and said open end, said casing further including a limiting through hole formed in one of said guide walls and extending along said first direction, said movable element further having a guide stud projecting from said main body and extendable into said limiting through hole. 
     
     
       19. The electronic apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said casing further includes a press piece and a protrusion, said press piece having one end connected to said one of said guide walls, and another opposite end spaced apart from an outer face of said one of said guide walls, said protrusion projecting from said another opposite end of said press piece toward said one of said guide walls, said one of said guide walls being further formed with an engaging hole corresponding in position to said protrusion, said engaging hole being disposed between said closed end of said casing and said limiting through hole, said movable element further including a resilient plate formed on said main body, said guide stud being formed on said resilient plate to engage said engaging hole, and wherein, when said guide stud engages said engaging hole, said main body compresses said spring member and said protruding end is proximate to said open end. 
     
     
       20. The electronic apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein each of said notches has a first stop face facing said open end and substantially parallel to said second direction, and a first inclined face extending inclinedly from said first stop face to a corresponding one of said positioning walls, each of said engaging teeth having a second stop face substantially parallel to said second direction, and a second inclined face extending inclinedly from said second stop face to said second section of a respective one of said resilient arms, said second stop face abutting against said first stop face of one of said notches to restrict movement of said movable element toward said closed end of said casing. 
     
     
       21. The electronic apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said protruding end has a substantially V-shaped cross section, and is formed with two opposite inclined faces, said engaging groove being formed between said inclined faces. 
     
     
       22. The electronic apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said movable element further includes an elastic cushion disposed in said engaging groove. 
     
     
       23. A fixing device for fixing an end of a circuit board, said fixing device comprising:
 a casing defining a receiving space and having an open end communicating with said receiving space; 
 a movable element extending into said receiving space and having an inner end, a protruding end protruding from said open end, and an engaging groove formed in said protruding end for receiving the end of the circuit board, said movable element being movable relative to said casing along a first direction to vary a protruding distance of said protruding end from said open end of said casing; and 
 a spring member abutting against said casing and said movable element along said first direction to bias said movable element to move toward said open end; 
 wherein said casing includes two spaced-apart positioning walls, and two spaced-apart guide walls connected to and cooperating with said positioning walls to define said receiving space and said open end, said movable element including a main body having said inner end and said protruding end, one of said guide walls being formed with a limiting through hole extending along said first direction, said movable element further having a guide stud projecting from said main body and extendable into said limiting through hole. 
 
     
     
       24. The fixing device as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein said casing further includes a press piece and a protrusion, said press piece having one end connected to said one of said guide walls, and another opposite end spaced apart from an outer face of said one of said guide walls, said protrusion projecting from said another opposite end of said press piece toward said one of said guide walls, said one of said guide walls being further formed with an engaging hole corresponding in position to said protrusion, said engaging hole being disposed between said closed end of said casing and said limiting through hole, said movable element further including a resilient plate formed on said main body, said guide stud being formed on said resilient plate to engage said engaging hole, and wherein, when said guide stud engages said engaging hole, said main body compresses said spring member and said protruding end is proximate to said open end. 
     
     
       25. An electronic apparatus, comprising:
 a housing including opposite first and second housing walls; 
 a circuit board having a first end positioned in said first housing wall, and a second end facing said second housing wall; and 
 a fixing device including
 a casing defining a receiving space and having an open end communicating with said receiving space, 
 a movable element extending into said receiving space and having an inner end, a protruding end protruding from said open end, and an engaging groove formed in said protruding end to receive said second end of said circuit board, said movable element being movable relative to said casing along a first direction to vary a protruding distance of said protruding end from said open end, and 
 a spring member abutting against said casing and said movable element along said first direction to bias said movable element to move toward said open end; 
 wherein said casing includes two spaced-apart positioning walls, and two spaced-apart guide walls connected to and cooperating with said positioning walls to define said receiving space and said open end, said movable element including a main body having said inner end and said protruding end, one of said guide walls being formed with a limiting through hole extending along said first direction, said movable element further having a guide stud projecting from said main body and extendable into said limiting through hole. 
 
 
     
     
       26. The electronic apparatus as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein said casing further includes a press piece and a protrusion, said press piece having one end connected to said one of said guide walls, and another opposite end spaced apart from an outer face of said one of said guide walls, said protrusion projecting from said another opposite end of said press piece toward said one of said guide walls, said one of said guide walls being further formed with an engaging hole corresponding in position to said protrusion, said engaging hole being disposed between said closed end of said casing and said limiting through hole, said movable element further including a resilient plate formed on said main body, said guide stud being formed on said resilient plate to engage said engaging hole, and wherein, when said guide stud engages said engaging hole, said main body compresses said spring member and said protruding end is proximate to said open end.